In light of the stark and troubling statistics regarding global greenhouse gas emissions that I blogged about a short while ago, I thought the following quote that I came across on the Adbusters site especially pertinent:
"Today, humanity faces a stark choice: save the planet and ditch capitalism, or save capitalism and ditch the planet."
Fawzi Ibrahim is the author of the book Capitalism versus Planet Earth (with the telling sub-heading of An Irreconcilable Conflict), a copy of which I must absolutely get ASAP, because it sounds like a read and a half.
The review of Ibrahim's book on the A World To Win site states how, "Scientists have at last begun to establish limited statistical associations, evidence pointing to a causal connection between 150 years of industrial production and at least some of the extreme weather events occurring around the globe. Fawzi Ibrahim goes further, however, deploying some powerful theoretical weapons learned from electronic engineering and economics, extending beyond the work of the natural scientists. He shows why it is the capitalist system of social relations that necessarily leads to the disruption of the planet’s ecological system and threatens all life on the planet."
The review further states that, "The importance of Ibrahim’s theoretical explanation cannot be overstated, because it gives us the chance to attack the problem with surgical precision. If you know where the cancer is to be found, and act quickly enough, it can be removed."
The review continues: "...now the deepening financial and economic crisis has largely discredited the versions of classical, Keynesian and neo-liberal economics taught to most students. And the worldwide revolt against the consequences of the crisis provides the best chance of building a movement that can bring capitalism to a conclusion and thus provide the solution to its ecological impact. It is in this context that Ibrahim’s boldly titled book Capitalism versus Planet Earth takes on its importance, dusting down, as he admits, conclusions he came to in the 1970s, to inform and help educate an understandably confused new generation."
A book to be read, no doubt, and easily the Quote of the Day for my humble little blog.
Irreconcilable differences indeed.
Do you get my point?
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